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Through May and June 2026, Jaime and I set out to four regional towns across Central West New South Wales to connect with high school students in their last years of secondary education.
Our journey took us from °µÍø½ûÇø to Young, a drive of approximately three and a half hours, before venturing on to Forbes, Dubbo and Bathurst over the course of the week. In total, we engaged with around 3,000 students from a diverse range of backgrounds and study interests.
Some students were eager to learn more about undergraduate study opportunities at the University of °µÍø½ûÇø (UOW), while others already had siblings or family members studying at UOW. Many were still exploring their options and looking for guidance about life after school.
Alongside UOW Future Student Advisers Alex and Mackenzie, we shared information about the Woolyungah Indigenous Centre (WIC) and the support available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Conversations centred around our Indigenous Admissions Program (IAP), ITAP tutoring services and, of course, our daily lunches, which proved to be a popular talking point with students!
Throughout the tour, we were joined by representatives from tertiary institutions and organisations from across New South Wales. As we convoyed through charming country towns, we had the opportunity to connect with colleagues over dinner each evening and over morning coffees before setting up for another day of conversations with students. It was inspiring to learn about the programs offered by different institutions and the many ways they support and encourage young people to pursue their aspirations.
Just a few weeks later, we were back on the road, this time heading to the Riverina region of south-west New South Wales.
Travelling from a rainy °µÍø½ûÇø to a bright, sunny and unseasonably warm Leeton, we covered more than five hours of highway driving, passing road trains, vast farmland and more livestock than we could count, with some briefly bringing traffic to a standstill!
Our trips across regional New South Wales were a fantastic opportunity to connect with prospective UOW students, showcase the supports available through WIC, and build relationships with representatives from other universities and organisations. We look forward to continuing these conversations and supporting more regional students on their pathways to higher education.